Wake Up!
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Wake Up! Image
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 35 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Pope's prayers and speeches in English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese are set to a variety of music styles.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. AllMusic
    Dec 22, 2015
    60
    To a casual listener, it might be a little much, but considering the Pope released an album with an electric guitar, he deserves a little credit for having some edge. Whether listeners are religious or not, these are messages that are universally comforting in dark times.
  2. Rolling Stone
    Dec 1, 2015
    60
    Usually, the music--some of which is quite lovely--veers closer to the New Age neoclassicism of Vangelis or Kitaro, a warm fit for Francis' tender, elegant speaking voice.
  3. The Telegraph (UK)
    Dec 1, 2015
    60
    It’s moderately uplifting, all pretty easy going and easy listening.
  4. Consequence
    Dec 1, 2015
    50
    The music never threatens to eclipse the message. If anything--and this might sound like a strange criticism of a Christian rock album--it’s too reverential.
  5. Pitchfork
    Dec 3, 2015
    50
    Wake Up! exists at a tremendously strange midpoint between a two-hour mass and a corporate recruitment video. It’s like you drank a bunch of cough syrup and went to Live Aid: The Vatican.
  6. Under The Radar
    Jan 4, 2016
    45
    Although it is difficult to imagine any scenario in which listening to this is entirely appropriate, the album was clearly intended as an inspirational totem. Its total strangeness only complicates that effort.
  7. Clash Music
    Dec 1, 2015
    10
    Partly because it's so painfully eager to please. Sonorous sermons that really should hit home--delivered in an unseasoned multilingual mishmash of tongues (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, English)--are unflattered by the ersatz backdrop of cheesy latin pop, dire orchestral muzak and (heavens preserve us) Meat Loaf-esque '70s prog.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. therussiansteve
    Dec 4, 2015
    10
    The illest pope this side of heaven drops the dopest tracks since God wrote Silent Night. Immaculately conceived, Wake Up! brings intoThe illest pope this side of heaven drops the dopest tracks since God wrote Silent Night. Immaculately conceived, Wake Up! brings into question why we would ever listen to anything else ever. If you're looking for music to get turnt to, but also be forgiven for getting turnt as you're getting turnt, this is the album for you.
    Preach.    … Expand
  2. jfinuc
    Dec 1, 2015
    10
    Dope Francis delivers with the most savage album of 2015. With his debut album "Wake Up!" he is telling all these non-believers to get theirDope Francis delivers with the most savage album of 2015. With his debut album "Wake Up!" he is telling all these non-believers to get their ass up and pray they asses don't get caught lacking in the streets when Dope Francis is driving by. With lines such as, "When I pull out the nine these **** better pray. Cross them up like it was Ash Wednesday," it's hard to say that this isn't an AOTY contender. Dope Francis really surprised me with this one and I hope we hear something of this caliber from him sometime soon.… Expand
  4. eravencroft
    Dec 8, 2015
    7
    While Francis P cuts his teeth on such free spirited over-the-top block party jams as "Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!" and soul searchingWhile Francis P cuts his teeth on such free spirited over-the-top block party jams as "Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!" and soul searching just-try-not-to-cut-yourself anthems as "Por Qué Sufren los Niños?”, his debut doesn’t hold a candle to his obvious inspirations, Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors.… Expand
  5. cryhardhumor
    Dec 1, 2015
    4
    Pretty harmless, but pretty pointless as well. A great opportunity to do something really special and interesting is merely reduced to nothingPretty harmless, but pretty pointless as well. A great opportunity to do something really special and interesting is merely reduced to nothing more than the popular Pope's speeches overlaying some rather mellow easy listening music… Expand
  6. Prosmooth
    Dec 5, 2015
    4
    I enjoyed listening to it more than Coldplay's new album. As far as the grand scheme of things goes---I think I'll stay a Buddhist. ThanksI enjoyed listening to it more than Coldplay's new album. As far as the grand scheme of things goes---I think I'll stay a Buddhist. Thanks anyway, Padre.… Expand

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